Machine for heading cartridge-shells



' (No Model.)

. J. H. GILL. Machine for Heading Cartridge Shells.

No; 241,962. Patented May 24, 1881.,

Hill

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llllllllllllll t UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIoE.

JABEZ HfGILL, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

I MACHINE FOR HEADING CARTRIDGE-SHELLS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.241,962, dated May 24, 1881.

' Application filed March 10,188]. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JABEZ H. GILL, of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Machines for Heading Cartridge-Shells, of which the following is a specifica-tion.

Myinvention relates to machines for heading cartridge-shells; and the invention consists in a novel manner of constructing the frame and mounting the crank-shaft therein; and, second, in a novel manner of securing the heading punch or hunter, all as hereinafter more fully described.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section, on the line 0'0 .79 of Fig. 2, of the frame of my improved heading-machine. Fig. 2 is a topplan View of the same; and Fig.3 is a sectional view of a portion shown detached to illustrate the manner of securing, adjusting, and supporting the heading punch or hunter.

Originally metallic cartridges were made of comparatively thin metal, and had their heads formed by folding the metal back upon itself to produce the radial flange. Subsequently the head or flange was formed by compressing the solid metal in such a manner as to cause it to flow outward around the edge of the head and thereby produce a solid head without fold or seam. This operation requires a very stron g pressure, and consequently the machines are made much heavier and stronger than for the folded heads formerly manufactured.

Of late'thicker and heavier metal has been used to produce these solid-headed shells, and experience has demonstrated thatthe machines as ordinarily made will not stand the required pressure and remain in order so as to work with the desired degree of accuracy.

One source of difficulty is the yielding of the crank-shaft, which operates the heading punch or hunter, when mounted in boxes in the usual manner. For however nicely these boxes may be fitted to the frame and'the shaft itis found that the shaft and its boxes will yield more or less, and when subjected to the great presssufficient pressure is applied to squeeze a portion of the metal of the head out around the end of the punch.

Another difficulty with these machines arises from the gradual yielding of the punch or hunter in its seat in the cross-head or reciprocating carrier. Even when provided with a screw-thread, by which it is held in the crosshead, it is found that owing to the irregular bearin g of 'these threads the hunter will after a time give more or less, thereby rendering the heads defective by making them of varying thickness. 7

The object of my present invention is to so construct a heading-machine as to overcome or obviate these difficulties, and thus produce a header that will form these solid heads on shells with accuracy and uniformity.

To obviate the first-mentioned difficulty or defect I make the bed or frame A of the machine in a single solid casting, as represented in Figs. 1 and 2, with vertical sides B, each having an enlargement, E, atthe end where the crank-shaft D is mounted. These enlargements or shoulders E are each provided with an opening, I, Fig. 1, of such a size as to permit the crank-shaft D to be shoved endwise through said openings, as shown in Fig. 1 and by the dotted linesin Fig. 2. Then, instead of fitting boxes in the frame for the shaft to rest and work in, I form the bearings for the journals of the shaft D in the solid metal of the frame itself, as shown in Fig. 1, the bearing being made on the side of the shaft opposite that on which the pressure is applied in forming the head, so that when the crankv assumes the position shown in Fig. 2 it has its bearing against the solid metal of the frame without any inter- Venin g box or piece whatever.

In order to hold the crank-shaft in place a half-box, G, is fitted in the opening I on the opposite side of the journals, as shown in Fig. 1, this box being held in place by a clamp or follower, b, provided with a screw bolt, a, on which there is a jam-nut, c, as shown in Fig. 1. The heading-die is secured about midway of the frame, and to the crank-shaft D is secured a pitman, to the opposite end of which is attached the usual slideor cross-head that carries the heading punch or hunter, these parts not being shown, as they may be made in any desired or usual manner, and do not contain any part of my invention, except as to the manner in which the heading punch or hunter is secured thereto, and which I now proceed to explain.

This feature of my invention is shown in Fig. 3, in which J represents the nose or projecting end of the slide which carries the heading punch or hunter, the parts in this, as in Figs. 1 and 2, being reduced in size, this being less reduced than the others, however. The part J has a hole bored in its end, as usual, and is also provided with an internal screwthread, as shown. The punch P in this case is represented as being inserted in a holder or separate piece, L, though, if preferred, these may be formed of a.- single solid piece, and in either case the part L is provided with an external screw-thread, 0, by which it is adjusted and held in place.

At the iunerend of the part L a hole is made transversely through the part J, in which is titted a wedge-shaped piece, K, of hardened steel, as shown in Fig. 3, so that after the punch or its holder L (in case the latter be used) is adjusted to the exact position required by meausot'the screw-thread the wedge K is driven in, so as to form a solid hearing for the inner end of the punch or hunter, thus relieving the screw-threads from the great strain and wear to which they would otherwise be subjected.

By these means I am enabled to make a heading-machine that will form solid-headed shells with a degree of accuracy heretofore unattainable, and which will retain its accuracy for a much longer period than when made in the usual manner.

One great advantage of such a machine is that the heads of the shells can he formed in the countersink of the recess of the headingdie, thereby making the body of the head or flange perfectly uniform and concentric with the body of the shell, and saving all the trouble and expense of subsequently trimming the heads, except to remove the thin rim of metal which is formed by the excess of metal squeezed out of the recess in the die, and which, being much thinuerthan the flangeitselt', can be easily and quickly removed.

I am aware that it is customary to bore a hole in castings and other metals to form a hearing for spindles or shafts, and that it is not new to unite parts by means of a gih or key passing through holes in the parts thus united, and therefore Itlo not claim these; but

Having fully described my invention, what I claim is 1. As an iniprovementin heading-machines, the frame A, provided with the openings I, of suitable size to permit the crank-shaft I) to be inserted through the same, with the bearing for said shaft formed in the solid metal of the frame, and devices,substantiallysuch asshown, for holding the shaft in position.

2. The punch or its holder L, fitted to the hunter J, with a screw-thread, U, in. combination with the key or wedge K, arranged to operate as and for the purpose set forth.

JABEZ H. GILL.

Witnesses WILLIAM DUNGAN, J. B. HOPKINS. 

